Island County Commissioner Bacon Highlights Jail Sites, Water Franchises, and Annexation Hearing

District 1 Commissioner Jaimey Bacon's weekly newsletter, published March 13, centered on one of the county's most consequential public safety decisions in recent memory: where to build a new jail. The newsletter, which summarized the board's March 10 regular session alongside other county business, laid out a schedule of four community meetings across Island County to gather input on three potential sites.

"I strongly encourage everyone to attend one or at least to review the webpage, since this is an important public safety initiative that will ultimately impact everyone's wallet," Bacon wrote in the newsletter.

Two of those four meetings have already passed. The first was held March 7 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Board of County Commissioners Hearing Room at 1 NE 6th St in Coupeville, and a second followed March 12 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Freeland Hall, 1515 E Shoreview Dr in Freeland. Two sessions remain on the schedule: Thursday, March 19 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at The Center, 51 SE Jerome St in Oak Harbor, and Saturday, March 21 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Convergence Room, 121 E Camano Dr in Camano. The meetings are designed to inform the public about each candidate site and give residents a chance to ask questions directly.

Those unable to attend either remaining session can submit written questions to Jeff Douglas, the county's Assistant Risk Manager and Safety Coordinator, at jdouglas@islandcountywa.gov.

The newsletter also flagged ongoing work by the Planning Commission on the Comprehensive Plan Update. The commission typically meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville, and agendas are posted at least a week in advance, with meeting minutes and Zoom connection details available through the county's Planning Commission page.

Bacon also noted that the Patrick's Day Pancake Breakfast at Island Senior Resources, which benefits the Meals on Wheels program, was approaching, though further details on the event were not included in the published newsletter.

The newsletter's title references additional topics, including water franchises, an annexation hearing, and compactor funding, items drawn from the board's March 10 regular session. Full details on those subjects are expected to be available through the county's published board materials and future communications from the commissioner's office.